Cheap SR-22 Car Insurance in California
Mercury and Progressive have the cheapest SR-22 car insurance in California
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- An SR-22 is a certificate proving you carry valid California car insurance. Your insurer files it with the California DMV.
- Mercury and Progressive tie for the cheapest SR-22 car insurance in California at $127 a month.
- Mercury has the cheapest SR-22 full coverage insurance at $320 a month.
- Geico has the cheapest insurance with an SR-22 liability for minor violations at $87 a month.
- Statewide SR-22 costs run $111 to $471 a month depending on your record and coverage.
- California requires only liability coverage for an SR-22: $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, $15,000 property damage.
- Most companies add a filing fee of about $25.
California’s cheapest SR-22 insurance after a DUI
At $127 a month, Mercury and Progressive have California’s cheapest SR-22 liability insurance
Meanwhile, Mercury has the cheapest full coverage
Cheap SR-22 rates after a DUI
| Company | Monthly liability | Monthly full coverage | LendingTree score |
|---|---|---|---|
 | $127 | $320 |  |
 | $127 | $358 |  |
 | $134 | $373 | |
 | $182 | $430 |  |
 | $229 | $503 |  |
 | $312 | $866 | |
 | $183 | $552 | |
What is California SR-22 insurance?
An SR-22 is a certificate that confirms you have valid California car insurance. Your insurance company files it with the DMV when you buy your policy. It is not a separate type of insurance. Price depends on which violation led to the requirement, where you live, and what type of vehicle you drive. Each company weighs these factors differently. That is why comparing car insurance quotes from several companies is the surest way to find the cheapest rate.
Each company treats these factors differently. This makes it good to compare car insurance quotes from a few companies to find the cheapest rate.
California’s cheapest SR-22 insurance after a minor violation
Geico has California’s cheapest SR-22 insurance after minor violations like driving without insurance: $87 a month for liability, $243 a month for full coverage. USAA is cheaper still, at $75 liability and $220 full coverage, but you or a close family member must be current or veteran military to qualify.
Cheap SR-22 insurance for minor violations
| Company | Monthly liability | Monthly full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $87 | $243 |
| Progressive | $93 | $247 |
| Mercury | $102 | $257 |
| State Farm | $139 | $369 |
| Farmers | $146 | $344 |
| Travelers | $167 | $355 |
| USAA* | $75 | $220 |
Best SR-22 insurance in California
Geico, Mercury and Progressive are California’s best companies for SR-22 insurance.
Geico has a better satisfaction rating from J.D. Power than Mercury and Progressive. This usually means better rates and/or customer service.
Geico also offers more discounts than the other two, including discounts for military service members, federal employees and many other groups. These car insurance discounts can make Geico your cheapest option if you qualify for enough of them.
Progressive and Mercury have more coverage options. Unlike Geico, they each offer:
-
Gap insurance
, which is helpful if you financed your car with a low down payment.Gap insurance covers the difference between your car’s value and your loan balance, if you total the vehicle.
-
Custom parts and equipment (CPE)
, which adds extra protection for customized upgrades you’ve made to your vehicle.CPE protects modifications to your vehicle, which aren’t always covered by standard car insurance.
Best SR-22 insurance companies
| Company | Satisfaction rating
Source: J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study. Higher is better, 631 is the regional average for California.
| LendingTree score |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | 644 | 3.5 |
| Progressive | 638 | 4 |
| Mercury | 594 | 3.5 |
Who needs SR-22 insurance in California?
California requires SR-22 car insurance to get your driver’s license back after certain violations. Major offenses count, including DUI and reckless driving. So do minor ones, like driving without insurance. An accident while uninsured can suspend your license regardless of fault. An SR-22 is how you get that license back.
Most car insurance companies offer SR-22 certificates. Ask them to file one when you buy your policy. Many add a filing fee of about $25 to your rate. Tell every company about your SR-22 requirement up front, so your quotes are accurate. Remind your agent to file the certificate when you finalize the purchase. Don’t own a car? A nonowners policy satisfies the requirement and covers you in cars you rent or borrow.
How much is SR-22 insurance in California?
SR-22 insurance in California costs $111 to $471 a month. The range depends on your driving record and how much coverage you buy. After a minor violation: $111 a month for liability, $286 for full coverage. After a DUI: $175 a month for liability, $471 for full coverage. A clean record with an SR-22 averages $69 liability and $182 full coverage.
SR-22 rates by driving record
| Driving record | Monthly rate liability | Monthly rate full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $69 | $182 |
| Minor violation | $111 | $286 |
| At-fault accident | $133 | $341 |
| Reckless driving | $167 | $446 |
| DUI | $175 | $471 |
How to get cheaper SR-22 car insurance in California
Shopping around and getting discounts can help you get cheaper SR-22 insurance in California. Adjusting your coverages can also help you get a lower rate.
Why shop around?
Most companies’ rates vary by customer. In addition to your driving record, they look at your location, vehicle and other factors. Some have lower rates for certain cars than others. Some raise their rates by larger amounts after certain violations.
Getting quotes from multiple companies helps you find the one with the cheapest rate for your specific situation.
Car insurance discounts for an SR-22
Car insurance discounts can also help make your SR-22 car insurance more affordable. You usually get the biggest discounts by bundling your car insurance with a home or renters policy
If you’re a safe driver, usage-based insurance (UBI) can help you save on car insurance. Most companies have UBI programs, which often use a smartphone app to monitor your driving. You can get a discount just for signing up and additional ones for driving safely.
The way you shop can often also save you money.
- Geico, Progressive and other companies give you a discount for getting quotes online.
- Mercury and Progressive are among the ones with discounts for signing your policy documents electronically.
It’s good to ask about these and other discounts when you get your quotes.
How much car insurance do I need for an SR-22?
California law only requires you to get liability insurance for an SR-22. The required minimum limits are:
- Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $15,000
If you have a car loan, your lender will also require collision
You can save money on full coverage by raising your deductibles. If your car’s value has dropped below $4,000, the benefits of full coverage may not be worth the cost.
Methodology
How we obtained SR-22 car insurance rates in California
LendingTree uses insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services using publicly sourced insurance company filings. Rates are based on an analysis of car insurance quotes from every California ZIP code. Prices are shown for comparative purposes only. Your own rates may be different.
Unless otherwise noted, quotes are for a 30-year-old male with a 2015 Honda Civic EX. Major violation rates are for a driver with an OVI. Minor violation rates are for an insurance violation.
Coverage limits
Minimum-liability policies provide liability coverage with the state’s required minimum limits.
Full-coverage policies include collision, comprehensive and liability coverage:
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $50,000
- Uninsured / underinsured motorist bodily injury: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Collision: $500 deductible
- Comprehensive: $500 deductible
How we evaluated car insurance companies
Our team of insurance experts rated insurance companies based on several categories. These categories include average rates, discounts, coverage options, third-party customer service ratings and app/website experience. We weighted these categories based on what customers value in an insurance company.
For third-party customer service ratings, we included Complaint Index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best. NAIC Complaint Index scores are used to determine how satisfied customers are with their claims, while financial strength ratings from A.M. Best reflect the ability to pay out claims.
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*USAA is only available to current and former members of the military as well as certain family members.
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